Commission plans to reopen Washington Crossing Bridge on Monday

Span will be open during daylight hours beginning Monday at 6 a.m. But from 10 p.m.-6 a.m., the bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic so workers can undertake two repair/replacement projects.

By Ruth Luse
   Those accustomed to using the Washington Crossing Bridge for trips to and from nearby Pennsylvania won’t have to use the Scudder Falls (I-95) bridge on a regular basis again unless they want to — at least not during daylight hours, beginning Monday morning.
   Since April 7, regular users of the closed Washington Crossing Bridge have had the option of using the Scudder Falls span, the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge, and other more distant crossings to get to and from Pennsylvania. Weekday traffic congestion reports relating to the Scudder Falls bridge have been dismal, to say the least.
   But today (Friday), the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission reported it has nearly completed work on the Washington Crossing Bridge to repair damage incurred during the early April flooding of the Delaware River.
   The bridge will be reopened to traffic operations during daylight hours beginning Monday (May 2) at 6 a.m. But from 10 p.m.-6 a.m., the bridge will not be open to vehicular or pedestrian traffic so workers can undertake two repair/replacement projects.
   "When the bridge reopens on Monday, the hours of operation will be restricted to accommodate a grouting operation on the damaged pier and previously planned repairs to replace the bridge’s expansion joints. That work will result in the closure of the bridge during the night to vehicular and pedestrian traffic from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. The night closures are expected be in effect through the end of May. Before the flood had occurred, the expansion joint work was programmed to begin in early May," a spokeswoman said.
   The bridge was closed on April 7, when damages from the flood of early April were revealed. When the flood waters receded, diving inspectors were able to access the structure and only then could the engineers begin the development of the repair plans. The repair work on the damaged masonry to the pier began on April 21. Progress was hampered by a rise in the water level of the river following last weekend’s rain, but the commission’s contractor adapted its operations to enable the reopening of the bridge on May 2 in accordance with the seven-10 day emergency repair schedule, the spokeswoman said.
   "We are pleased with the efforts of our staff, engineers and contractor to expeditiously repair the damage so that the bridge could be safely reopened within our original time frame and not further inconvenience the public during daylight hours," said Frank McCartney, executive director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
   The superstructure of the Washington Crossing Bridge, which connects Hopewell Township and Upper Makefield, Pa., was built in 1904. The substructures of the bridge, including the piers, are composed of rubble stone-faced masonry, and date to 1831. The commission completed the regrouting of the joints and masonry piers of the bridge in 1995. An estimated 7,400 vehicles utilize the Washington Crossing Bridge each day.